Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Vatican directs Buffalo bishop not to reduce historic church to profane use; diocese will appeal

Siding with former parishioners, the Congregation for the Clergy has
decreed that a historic Buffalo parish cannot be reduced to profane use.

“In a decree dated Jan. 7, 2014, the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy
has upheld the appeal of former St. Ann parishioners, who argued
against the reduction of St. Ann Church in Buffalo to profane
(non-religious) use,” the Diocese of Buffalo said in a statement.

“The
decree also prohibits any potential developer from repurposing the
property.”

“Bishop Richard J. Malone is reviewing the decree, and said the diocese
will file an appeal before the Apostolic Signatura, the Vatican’s
highest juridical body,” the statement continued. “It will also be up
to the bishop to decide what will happen with the use of St. Ann Church
in the interim.”

The diocese had closed the parish in 2012.

“On Aug. 18, 2013, the
Diocese of Buffalo announced the church would be razed due to severe
interior and exterior deterioration, with re-construction costs
estimated at between $8 million and $12 million,” the statement
continued.